Lazy Gramophones Journals

Paul Bloom's Five Things.

Written by Lazy Gramophone on Monday the 17th of June 2013

Five Things is a series of short journal posts introducing each of the writers and artists involved in our Time project.

Since the project's inception, the idea has been to create an environment where independent writers and artists could come together in order to share their work. The result of this endeavour is a collection of stories, images and poems based around the theme of time, its pages placing particular focus upon the relationship between words and pictures. By sharing in this way we hope to inspire each other as well as those around us, to draw a diverse audience and so help to illuminate the work of alternative artists and writers everywhere.

Biography.

For me art isn't simply about self expression, but exploring what I can express. I have long had an interest in visually describing the huge and the minute or the immense or the microscopic, which are also explored in the writings of Hannah Stephenson and Joanne Tedds. As individuals we experience extremes in our lives and through our interactions with people and nature we discover, adapt and learn. Hannah Stephenson's poem is personal and intimate, whilst Joanne Tedds short story depicts a few solitary experiences in a wider bleak world.

A long time ago I set about producing work inspired by 'The realization of an event'. I was fascinated by exploring the descriptive movements in art; kinetic art, and the ways that movement can 'mime' certain emotions and ideas (literal movement or representation). I was particularly interested in the notion that a single monumental but personal event can be captured and described in this way. So I built kinetic sculpture and kinetic jewellery, using moving parts and translucency to hide then reveal hidden events, almost like a burlesque dance. My working drawings planned out these pieces, but I soon found an inherent hidden aspect to drawings which goes beyond sculptural depiction, revealing moments of mystery and drama. A drawing can show a particular moment in time, caught in the middle of an event, questioning 'what could happen or what has happened'.

My drawings are intended as both beautiful and sinister, and often in good humour. They are unsettling, mysterious and distorted, as are our dreams. I use Biro which is a mundane every day tool that can achieve a high level of contrast and subtlety, far beyond its logographical design.

ScienceTo me science demonstrates what is possible beyond my own endeavours and imagination. I have a fascination with mechanical science and exploration of stellar space and the World's oceans, and also of microbiology and the juxtaposed dangers/advantages that come with new discoveries.

NatureFor as far back as I can remember I have looked at nature for my creative inspiration and to escape the noise and oppression of city life. The cycle of life and death and recycling (re-genesis) of the elements that make us are themes that make me excited, and inspired my jewellery and sculpture in the past.

DreamsTo me dreams and nightmares are two and the same, separated only by how I feel when I wake up. The majority of my dreams are of the dark creepy kind, revisiting fears of suffocation and drowning, darkness and disempowerment, and paranoia of social blunders and consequences. But these are fantastic fuel for my work, and I always produce good work when I have woken in a fearful sweat.

Image and ArtMy favourite artist is Mindy Lee, who so happens to be my Wife. Marvel comics dominated my school hood leisure time, but also more sinister comics, particularly Aliens (Nightmare Asylum etc). I love the work of genius Heath Robinson, particularly his book Some 'Frightful War Pictures' (Duckworth. 1915). My favorite contemporary pen artists are Paul Noble and Paul Westcombe. I particularly admire the sculptures of The Chapmon Brothers, Paul McCarthy and Rebecca Horn. I am also a lifelong fan of the cartoons and films of Terry Gilliam.